"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

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The logical and practical reasons for the extension of the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU)

By Garang Kuot, Juba, South Sudan

2 Dinkas, 3 Nuers, and one Equatorian – The Proposed Presidency of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU)

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) — The ongoing debate
over the delay or immediate formation of a transitional government of national
unity, slated for May 12, 2019, is already losing track on facts as the Juba
propaganda machinery is seizing the opportunity to sadly mislead the people of South
Sudan one more time. South Sudan was here before and so the people of South
Sudan shouldn’t risk falling into the same trap of manipulation and
deception.

The Revitalized
Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) never left
any room for ambiguity, everything is adequately and clearly spelled out. It
would, therefore, be a colossal and unforgivable mistake to repeat the blunders
of the past considering the carnage and suffering the people endured in the
last five years.

The SPLM (IO) Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar’s proposal to extend the formation of a transitional government has drawn a mixed reaction. However, the critics of his proposal are either deliberately refusing to see the truth for ulterior reasons or they have not read the agreement. Drawing from past experiences, the R-ARCSS has laid out a step by step processes and modalities on how to execute its implementation. No room was left for guesswork in the R-ARCSS and so there is no reason to start guessing now.

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Position of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) on the Extension of the Pre-Transitional Period: Why the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) should be extended.

2 Dinkas, 3 Nuers, and one Equatorian – The Proposed Presidency of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU)

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) —– Reference is made to
the National Democratic Movement (NDM)’s Report on the mid-term evaluation of
the Pre-Transitional Period dated 14 January 2019 which we shared with the IGAD
Special Envoy for South Sudan, the stakeholders, guarantors and friends of
South Sudan. In that report, we showed that the implementation of the
activities slated for the Pre-Transition on which the commencement of the
Transitional Period depends were horribly behind time and recommended doubling
up the pace of implementation.

In particular, we listed ten (10) areas that called for special attention so as to beat the deadline, chief among these were: unification of the forces, funding the implementation process, the IBC and demilitarization of civilian centres. Unhappily, not much has changed since our last report as outlined below. Additionally, the issue of the Transitional Constitution has come up to add to the list of the unfulfilled promises.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) — This morning, I was reading a news from Radio Tamazuj and I saw a very disturbing news of a girl beaten to death by her parents because she refused to marry a man arranged by the parents to marry her in Eastern Lakes (Yirol).

Not only this news,
but there have been several reports that girls are being forced to marry those
they didn’t love and others are forced to sleep with them because they did not
want the men. Has justice become blunt and blind that these practices are being
condoned? What happened to our government and where is the constitution
governing and regulating our nation?

I know it is not easy to publish this article but it is better to speak up rather than seeing society driving to a different direction. South Sudan became independent to have a better life by having access to quality education, health, clean water and good infrastructure/roads and affordable food and living. But what do we see today? Evil has engulfed everywhere.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) —- A 20-year-old girl has been killed in South Sudan for refusing to marry a man her family had selected for her, according to a government official in Yirol. The inhumane consequence of this forced marriage that resulted in her death only highlights the need for an urgent end to this practice which is widespread in South Sudan, Amnesty International said today.

“Forcing someone to marry against their will is a clear violation of South Sudan’s own constitution as well as its international human rights obligations,” said Joan Nyanyuki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and Great Lakes Region.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) — A South Sudanese court threw out charges including treason against a prominent economist on Friday but said he still must face trial on new charges of disturbing the peace over interviews he gave to foreign media.

The case of Peter
Biar Ajak, a former child refugee who returned to his native South Sudan as an
internationally renowned academic, has thrown a spotlight on what rights groups
say is repression of dissent in Africa’s youngest country.

The South Sudan country director for the International Growth Center which is part of the London School of Economics, Biar was arrested in July 2018 and later charged with treason.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 (PW) —- My postgraduate learning experience as a foreign international studying away from home and loves ones has been most remarkable, and interesting in terms of having adopted the life one couldn’t imagine before. I consider this paper as an opportunity of brainstorming to pen down such wonderful memories which have a positive impact in one’s life and learning resulting in the development of academic knowledge and skills.

This paper presents personal account on life and educational experience in China since 2017-2019 as a refreshing up memories and highlights some social, historical and cultural aspects of my learning experience and educational travels in China while paying close attention to the progress of technological advancement made by the Chinese higher learning institutions and mechanism to continue improving and maintain contacts with concern authorities as envisaged in the academic code of conduct and principles of shared future for the benefit of the educators, learners and leadership. In addition, it identifies some shortcomings on the relativity of the areas visited; topics presented for discussions and the major being undertaken by the students.

Saturday, 27 April, 2019 (PW) – The twelfth of May – the dateline for the formation of Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) is fast approaching. The Revitalised Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) gave the parties eight months pre-transitional period before forming the TGONU. This is unlikely. The parties during this period nurtured a wide chasm not even the Vatican can abridge. The government of South Sudan, SPLM/IO, SSOA, and OPP are the signatories to the power sharing accord. Things are rapidly evolving and positions unpredictably shifting, putting the whole agreement in jeopardy.

Peter Gatdet, which I will call “Peter the Great” has met his creator finally this month after sending William Nyuon and Karbino Kuanyin many years ahead of himself. Peter Gatdet was a military man not to hesitate to fire a bullet at any target during his time in the bush or out of it. A month or two ago, he fired the first political bullet at the head of SSOA or South Sudan Opposition Allaince, Mr. Changson Chang with the backing of Dr. Lam Akol. He then retreated to Khartoum to the tender care of Omar Al Bashir. Al Bashir, the guarantor of R-ARCSS fell on his political sword and the logical option to Peter ………

One-Year Anniversary of the Arrest of Kerbino Wol: The piece describes the ongoing case of Kerbino Wol, who stands on trial in Juba, alongside Peter Biar Ajak and 5 other defendants, for the 7 October protest at the Blue House. Tomorrow, 27 April, marks exactly one year since the unlawful arrest of Kerbino Wol.

Friday, April 26, 2019 (PW) — One year ago, on 27 April 2018, Kerbino Wol, the young, South Sudanese entrepreneur and philanthropist, was arrested without charge and incarcerated at the Blue House, the headquarters of the National Security Service (NSS).

Following his unlawful arrest, Kerbino was subjected to torturous conditions. He has been accosted in his cell in the dead of night by masked agents threatening his disappearance. Injuries to his kidneys from these struggles left him urinating blood for several weeks. He would spend months in solitary confinement, nursing his wounds on his own without access to medical care. Kerbino’s requests to meet with his family and lawyers were repeatedly denied.

Kerbino Wol

He frequently went days (often consecutively) without receiving any food, only to learn later on that his relatives had been bringing food to the facility for him, which was instead eaten by officers of the NSS. Kerbino has suffered from typhoid, ulcers, and malnutrition, leaving him in a frail condition that was only alleviated by an emergency visit to a clinic in February.

Through all of this, he has lived in fear of being abused and abducted by agents of the NSS.

The Legal Status of Establishing a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) without the Participation of Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO Faction

By Bol Chol Kucdit, Juba, South Sudan

Friday, 26 April 2019 (PW) — It has been
observed since last week that one of signatories to R-ARCSS in person of Riek
Machar and his SPLM-IO faction requested for the extension of timeline of 12th,
May, 2019 for other six months to form the Transitional government of National
Unity in South Sudan. This news was received by peace lovers of this country as
bad news.

Many people were perplexed by
this one step backward approach by Riek Machar again. People thought Riek
Machar shall never be the same again given his commitment to come to Juba for
official celebration of peace last year at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum. People’s
positive thoughts about his commitment were later corroborated by the high level
spiritual retreat to Vatican City but all in vain.

No wonder to those who have been eye witnesses to Riek Machar’s war series! Many people who witnessed his volume of war series of 1991, 2013 and 2016 respectively, still held some doubts that South Sudanese should be prepared to watch for his 4th edition of war in 2019 or later date. Pathetic!

The Tri-stage Cycle of Racism: The Self-brainwashing, Self-victimizing and Self-destructive nature of Racism on the People of Africa

By Thiik Mou Giir, Melbourne, Australia

Friday, April 26, 2019 (PW) — Being subjected to racism, studying
racism, understanding racism, and struggling against racism often happen
simultaneously. One approaches the subject thinking that racism is something
normally carried out by the majority against the minority people. Although this
is true at the preliminary stage of racism, it is not the case in a more
advanced stage of racism.

In the more advanced stage of racism, the victims of
racism; namely, the black people themselves, start to practice racism against
themselves. They become self-brainwashing, self-victimizing and
self-destructive people. In any place, in any region, and in any country, where
racism exists, white supremacy enters into the popular consciousness of the
oppressed, the black people.

For instance, you observe your daughter’s skin is getting lighter and lighter and you suspect right away that she is applying some whitening creams on her body. You get disappointed and no matter how much you try to dissuade her, she is determined not to give in. You tell yourself that she is only a girl; she is immature; she is weak; she wants to become a Kawajia.

Friday, April 26, 2019 (PW) — Hot on the heels of the dissolution of the NYU whose
term has elapsed and the subsequent appointment of the steering committee led
by Mr Bak Salva to prepare for the election of the new body (vide Ministerial
Order); there have been some disgruntled and bigoted social media users who
have been ranting to have their voices or grievances heard without a semblance
of shame.

They consist of two groups mainly our cousins from Greater Bahr el Ghazal states; those in favour and against the former President of the NYU. These Youth are sharply divided as can be seen from the venom they have been spitting in the media against one another; they have taken it upon themselves to settle their scores using the position of the NYU as a Trojan horse by stirring up the situation and calling themselves names with some even questioning the legality of the Ministerial Order.

Friday, April 26, 2019 (PW) — Since
December 2013, President Kiir Mayardit has confined his presidential roles to
Juba. Hints of economic and political developments are limited to the capital
town. The president is only seen in public during celebration of national
events in Juba. His visits to regional towns and hinterlands are rare. Recently,
however, President Kiir Mayardit had surprised South Sudanese with a visit,
dubbed as ‘peace tour’, to Bahr el Ghazal. This tour was the second tour to the
region since 2013 political upheaval.

When we divorced
North Sudan, we didn’t expect our nascent political class to backslide the
country to guns as means of settling political differences. We thought our
amorphous elites would use dialogues or debates, as opposed to violence, to
address all forms of political differences.

But, it seemed, the long struggle for national liberation from Khartoum successive regimes had corrupted our leaders with moral turpitudes. No doubts, the 21-year- war, had inveigled, if not glued to, them with war philosophy. For these leaders; negotiations and dialogues are hard endeavours for engineering political solutions. Had our leaders knew how to debate political issues; 2013 crisis would have been averted.

Friday, April 26, 2019 (PW) — With the recent revolution in Khartoum, many people
within Khartoum are thinking about whether there will be a possibility to unite
Sudan. “South Sudan and Sudan.” However; such thinking will first have to meet
the litmus test of disunity, inequality, and development for all. It will also
have to meet the litmus test of why the South Sudanese voted for the Separation
for the first place.

The issue of reunification of the two independent Sudan is being talked about everywhere in Khartoum but its reality remains as an option to be explored. Adhieu Majok, a British-Dutch South Sudanese, an analyst, and a writer; who writes on the promotion of peace, girls and women rights and youth inclusivity in South Sudanese politics, wrote an article about this: Title: “willing Sudan’s uprising reunite North Sudan? In trying to answer this possibility of reunification of the two countries, she is content just like many other South Sudanese; who have suffered from the hand of the Khartoum regime spearheaded by the former Sudanese President: Omar Hassan Ahmed El Bashir.

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People Who Perpetuate Poverty, Instability and Criminality in Africa are Leaders Who Overstay Their Welcome to Power

By Chol Duang, Juba, South Sudan

Wednesday,
April 24, 2019 (PW) —- Over the years African and Western scholars, experts
and observers alike have argued that poverty in Africa is undeniably a result
of bad leadership and governance. Several Pan African leaders themselves have
admitted this truth, albeit reluctant about it. Many younger Africans who are
informed and desperately want change on the continent believe that poor leaders
who come to power on ethnic, sectional or regional agenda are largely
responsible for grinding poverty, political bickering, corruption, ethnic wars
and land issues.

Others say instability in one African nation can have adverse effects across Africa, particularly on trade, diplomacy, migration and political events in nearby countries. Recently, I debated a Facebook friend who claimed that there had been biases by Western media about South Sudan and Africa. When I challenged her to point out some of the Western media biases reported about South Sudan, she remains convinced that there have been biases in the media about South Sudan which are not true.

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The 2019 Duk Community Youth Leadership in Juba will be an Upgrading and Renovating Factor

By Wenne Madyt Dengs, Juba, South Sudan

Duk Community youth leadership in Juba, April 2019

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 (PW) — In modern societies, well instituted youth
organizations play an outstanding role in ending social injustice, and promote
equality for all – women rights, girl child education, challenging public authorities
to end inequity and many important issues.

Youth groups, associations and
unions have always been present throughout history, in every society. Yet they
have never received same attention from different communities, with an
attention to political system.

At a different plane, youth
organizations can be also used for aims such as attacking minorities or
promoting sectional division and segregation which at many times leads to
community’s disintegration. A youth association should purely adhere to
fundamental principles of civil society; advocating for fair justice and lobbying
with authorities for community wellbeing.

Political representatives at national and subnational levels of government become more accountable when a community works closely with an independent, strong and benevolent youth organization that sensitizes local citizens – to know their constitutional rights. But unfortunately a number of youth leaders are always detached from local people by politicians through bribery, and/or of a handing of better job.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 (PW) — For
every country to have a successful Educational System, they must have a good
Information Communication Technology (ICT) background, hence, for South Sudan
to achieve successive female participation in education. Therefore, the
government should firstemploy some
strategies that can boost the use of ICT among the females, because girls
considered themselves inferior in the use of ICT, by considering it as a job
isolated for males. South Sudan
should initiate girls education strategies that involve the use of ICT, and
also plan of launching an innovation lab in the states, which can provide a
space for UN agencies, International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

They can come together to develop creative solutions to enhances women and girls education problems in specific and systematic areas including ICT literacy in TVET schools. It is a fact that South Sudan has been, and is working hard to eliminate barrier on women and girls’ education, which were imposed on them by long cultured practices among South Sudanese Communities which rated girls and women as inferior and unable people in the world of education. Poverty is one of the problems which prevented women and girl from participating equally in education, because the cost of the school learning materials, made some parents opt to leave girls at home or marry them off at their early age to get wealth.

Monday, April 22, 2019 (PW) — The SPLM in Opposition has declared its opposition to the 12 May, 2019 dateline for the formation of the revitalized transitional government of national unity (R-TGONU) citing many reasons, some of them hilarious.

As a former member who is conversant with the inner workings of the SPLM -IO, I would say, as you got soaked so must you swim. Missing the 12 May dateline will be a depressant for many people, and we’ll be witnessing many die of shock because of shattered hopes.

Politics, especially opposition politics and armed opposition for that matter, is an intricate amalgam of ideology, objectives, organization, strategies, tactics, trickery, double-talking, bad-footing and alliances built up consciously to achieve power and use it to transform socially socioeconomically and culturally.

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Saturday, 20 April, 2019 (PW) – News is coming that the five-year old war is taking a toll on the pillars of the economy among which are commercial banks. Some banks are in deep trouble more than others as we speak. They have run out of cash and are technically insolvent – can’t pay creditors or depositors.

The history of the mushrooming commercial banks started in 2011 towards independence. This authored attended an initial meeting organised by Bank of South Sudan Governor, late Elijah Malok Aleng. In that meeting, he encouraged the owners of the so many foreign exchange bureaus to come together and establish commercial banks as one way of pooling resources to raise capital.

That advice was taken in a wrong way and wealthy individuals rushed to established banks as single or family shareholders contrary to the law and expectations in the country. The only banks operating in the country before the rush included; Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity, Ivory, Nile and Buffalo.

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Burning of cultural Uniform in Bor is unconstitutional, it violates Religious, and Indigenous Peoples’ and Cultural Rights

By John Deng D’Duot, Seattle, USA

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 (PW) — In the middle of
1980s 1990s, several Clergies in Jonglei State came up with an idea to burned
traditional gods such as Mayom de Kongoor, Aleer de Nyarweng, Malual de Anyual,
Mangok de Jueet, plus Lirpiou. Those Clergies claimed that traditional gods
were bad they should be let go.

They also claimed that they were liberating their people from jong raac “Bad gods”. However, they did not know that destroying those traditional gods was a bad idea. It’s ideas because the main goal was to promote Christianity.

In addition, they did not actually know that banning of those traditional gods was simply a distraction to their indigenous and traditional cultural practices, history, intellectual property and it was also a violation of human Rights Instrument such as: